Warley Place Nature Reserve

Spring flowers at Warley Place

Spring flowers at Warley Place

There are important works in progress on the historical features at Warley Place until January 2024. These works are essential to restore the parts of the site at risk, to protect the national importance of the site and to enhance the experience of visitors. 

There is no access into the conservatory and the main access path to the walled garden is closed, although there is a longer route available.  Please follow the signage and keep to the designated trails. 

Warley Place is open every day during daylight hours. This 25 acre reserve is the site of a house and once famous Edwardian gardens belonging to Ellen Willmott, it is now maintained as a nature reserve by Essex Wildlife Trust. There are some spectacular flowers to be enjoyed throughout the year, especially in the spring.

Location

Warley Road, Great Warley
Brentwood
CM13 3HU
A static map of Warley Place Nature Reserve

Know before you go

Size
10 hectares
P

Parking information

Small car park at the end of the drive

Grazing animals

Cows grazing from June-October

Walking trails

Please keep to the footpaths, including the path across the East Meadow and follow the marked trail.

Access

Many uneven surfaces.

Dogs

Assistance dogs only

When to visit

Opening times

The gate at Warley Place is opened every day during daylight hours.

Best time to visit

February to June

About the reserve

Miss Ellen Willmott remodelled the gardens and introduced into them a vast assortment of new plants from all over the world. Some are still found on the reserve.

What to look for: The garden had fallen into neglect but has now been restored by an enthusiastic team of volunteers, although not in its original form. Part of the buildings remain and can still be seen and some areas are dangerous because of hidden cellars, water holes and decaying walls.

Warley Place with its show of blooming spring flowers - from snowdrops to daffodils and crocuses then bluebells - is a spectacular sight to see. Also, look out for the Magnolias and Camellia, Winter Aconites, Anemones, Foxgloves and Ferns, which grow in profusion. Among a variety of trees, some exotic, is a line of huge Sweet Chestnuts. The reserve attracts a wide variety of birds, including the Nuthatch, and has a good selection of invertebrates including an excellent variety of meadow and woodland butterflies. Areas have also been adapted as very suitable bat habitats.

Did you know? The path from the car park to the reserve was the drive to the house and before that the main road from Great Warley to Brentwood. The road was moved to its present position in the 19th century.

Contact us

Essex Wildlife Trust

Environmental designation

Local Wildlife Site (LWS)
Warley Place

How to find us

Directions - On the B186 (Brentwood to South Ockendon) just south of Brentwood. Entrance next to Thatchers Arms pub.

Public Transport - Infrequent buses from Brentwood to Romford and Grays run past the entrance; ask for Thatchers Arms.

The entrance is adjacent to the Thatchers Arms pub (post code CM13 3HU) and through a wooden barred gate that should be kept closed.